To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to detail the steps his Department is taking to reduce farm-related accidents, injuries and deaths.

I am committed to ongoing engagement with colleagues in the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) who have lead responsibility for workplace Health and Safety, including on farms.

Significant improvement in understanding of the factors associated with incidents on farms has developed in recent years and this has informed the work of the Farm Safety Partnership (FSP). The key aim of the partnership is for all stakeholders to work together to develop and deliver a ‘Farm Safety Action Plan’ that will drive improvement of safety standards on Northern Ireland farms. All partners have been working collaboratively to develop a new Action Plan that will span the years 2024 to 2026.

My department contributes directly to the Farm Safety Action Plan across a number of themes, including the FSP’s 'Stop and Think SAFE' farm safety multi-media campaign, which was developed by the Partnership to help tackle the high rates of serious accidents and deaths on Northern Ireland's farms. This campaign draws attention to the four main causes of fatalities on our farms - Slurry, Animals, Falls (from height) and Equipment.

DAERA also supports the HSENI Farm Safety calendar. The calendar features images from posters created by primary school children with the theme of ‘Avoid Harm on the Farm’. Over 43,000 calendars are produced annually and are distributed to all rural primary schools in Northern Ireland.

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) ensures that farm safety is a key component of all agriculture education programmes that are delivered. For example, all new full-time, Further Education agriculture students participate in the ‘Yellow Wellies’ Farm Safety initiative which is delivered by the Farm Safety Foundation. Health and safety and the requirement for students to carry out risk assessments is also integrated into the practical activities undertaken by students studying at all levels at the College. CAFRE also provide tractor driving courses to young people aged between 13 and 15 years old. This course has a particular emphasis on health and safety.

Health and safety also features across CAFRE’s industry training provision. Farmers participating in Business Development Groups (BDG) and Farm Family Key Skills (FFKS) programmes receive regular opportunities to discuss health and safety issues at BDG meetings and during bespoke FFKS training events.

DAERA has also recently commissioned a three-year research project to determine how behavioural and cultural change can be influenced to effect safety improvements in the NI farming sector.

In conclusion, my department maintains a firm focus on reducing the incidence of injuries and fatalities on farms and we will continue to actively engage in the Farm Safety Partnership to improve health and safety outcomes for farmers, their families and their employees on all farms across Northern Ireland.